Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-07-14
"what / know about Farming
By UNCLE DICK.


a number of my agricultural friends hav-
ing requested me 10 give some Of nv expert
ence IN tillng the soil have concluded for
the benefit OF the rising generation 10 place
on record, What | Know about Farming.
Although ! am not at present tller of the
soil, have been in times past, and expect to
he again, put must Confess, that as farmer
! was not success. but this was through no
fault Of my own and when man docs his
level best, in any calling, and then fails, !
think he should have praise instead of CEN
sure.
One reason why failed as farmer, was
that sweat too much. and that caused me TO
weaken. 1t is said that man shall earn his
bread by the sweat of his brow, but if there is
any man, living or dead, who can pillow corn
and cotton with the mercury way up in the
nineties and sweat only on his brow, would
like to see him as a natural curiosity. | may
however, be mistaken on this point, and it is
possible that had not acquired the knack Of
combining the perspiration to my brow, but be
this as il may, do know as the poet has
beautifully expressed il in referring to SINH
lar circumstance, that,
The sweat flowed outfron every pore
When ever would plow,
And was not confined or circumscrbed,
To my aching sun burnt brow
And when the suns most piercing rays,
Would strike MY shoulder blade,
ID unlock my mule and let him graze,
And calmly seek the shade.
Another reason why did not meet with
better success, was that | am naturally tender
haa,tal orl r,,rc,bara1 r,N,calf
bound to treat my stock with kindness.
The mule didmy farming with was named
Jack, he was like the Irishman's pig little but
old: the best authenticated record placing his
age at 90 years Poor old Jack, he has gone
the way Of all flesh, and may The turf rest
lightly over his bones. Jack vas slow, very
slow and many time when would be hur-
rying him up, he would stop and look around
at me rcproachfully, as much as to say MGR
ciful man is merciful to his beast his al
ways had the desired effect and | would I'M
mediatcly unhitch him and hunt some cool
place in the shade, not for myself particularly,
bat for Jack, paid great Difference to Jack
judgment on such matters, and why should |
not have done SO, he had been working in
corn and cotton crops near all his life, while
was green hand and thought he knew
better than ! lid, when II was time TO stop
and rest. One of my neighbors cautioned
me to look out for Sunstrukes, and advised
me that il was always best for IL man starting
in 10 learn the science Of farming, 20 carry an
umbrella over him the first season. thought
this was a good idea, and rugged up an UNI
bre'la over me pillow which arrangement suited
me very well, but lack did not seem 10 take
I
step while the umbrella was up, he would
look around at me, as much as to say lool;
here odd fellow, if can't have one OF thos.
shades over me, you shant and ! WAS obliged
to take il down, and forego the luxury of
plowing under an unbaella.
My first attempt at raising cotton was a
lamentablc failure, for the reason that | was
not well enough acquainted with the plant, to
readily distinguish it from other growth, and
the result va, that Cut most all Of it down
with the hoe, but will venture the assertion
that raised the finest crop Of cucklc burs
that year. that was ever raised in lIardil
County; La six acres of them, more o less
but think it was more. Ii was 4 grand
sight, and my patch was noted far and wide
for its fine display of burs, and my ncighbors
all agreed that notwithstanding thcy had met
with lots of burs, my hurs were the most Wig
orous, and healthy looking burs, We've as q
whole, that they had ever seen or heard tell
OF. The same land the year pre,i ,us, had
produced over one b,le of cotton per acre
but from the whole six acres got but one
beggarly little bale, do not know how many
bur, there were, as just let them stay in the
field. tried to smooth the matter over wi
the old woman, by telling her it was a bao
year for cotton, but she proved the contrar,
by referring to my ncighbors' crops and
had to acknowledge that there was something
radically wrong. but poor old Jack had t.
Shou der most Of the blame The next spring
tried cotton again, but had in the mean
line concluded that the county raised toe
much cotton, therefore reduced my acreage
from to acres. | did not raise quite {
many burs this year, but got the same amour
pt cotton, that is, one bale. The following
| year tried it again, but still being of tn,
| opinion that more cotton was grown that tn.
| demand justified, | reduced the acreage from
4 to 2 acres. | do not know how much
raised that year, ~ the river came out befor
| it was gathered, and washed all of it away
burs and all, which SO disguised me that
abandoned cotton and turned my attention I,
other branches of farming. next tried corn
and in this was somewhat more successful
though ! never acquired great noteriety a
4 corn raiser, simply for the reason that OWN
to a popularity of the soil in my section, m
weeds grew and fiourished like Jonas gourd
and while | managed to keep them III chec
to certain extent yet was unable to full
| subdue them.
| My next venture was sweet potatoes, an
in this succeeded so well, that | used t
think very small book would contain VIII a
did not know about sweet potatoes, but IN
hrst years experience was somewhat smila
to my 6sst years tussle with cotton, that is,
did not know the difference between d swee
potato plant and a morning glory vine an
the result was that got things mixed, an
tenderly cared for the morning glory vines
and cut down the sweet potato plants, and 0
a matter OF course, the yield of potatoes wa
small, but had the finest patch of mornin
| giories that could be found in the country
and that was some consolation. kept o
however Juggling away year after year, ar
have succeeded so well that can now te
a sweet potato slip, as for as can see on,
SO far as the raising of the potatoes is col
cerned, | now find that to be an easy matte
provided they are in season, and | can mar
age to get sufficient cash to pay for them.
Speaking OF sweet potatoes, reminds me 4
what the poet has said on that intereStin
subject, and whose sentiments fully endors
How dear to my heart is the ripe sweet potato,
When 1t comes to tbs table roasted SO fine
And when asked II III have some how quickly n
| Al.